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fin designcolorslongboard finsresin transfer methodglass onssystem finsapparel

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This morning, under the variable clouds of a thousand fractions of sky, perched on the dented hoods of cars domestic to a hundred countries, we are looking at the same waves we looked at yesterday. As the other 99.9% of surfers, we’ve cheated, become infidels to the savagely nomadic wavesledder wed to our minds long ago. We’ve instead become frontiersman of our own backyards, cartographers to an infinity of patterns across the wave faces we know best. For almost 30 years at True Ames, we’ve forged enterprise and folk science from our desire to redesign these lines in as many languages as we can learn. Faster. Stronger. Lighter. Stranger. Each member of our little family of designs is an opportunity for reinventing our turns and reliving old ones, this time with a little magic, and next time with a little more. Enjoy.

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Understanding Fin Design

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COLOR ChoicesConstructionAll fins are not created equal! We take advantage of a vast amount of fin manufacturing experience to create fins that work in many different applications. Designs are executed using the required materials and foils to create the highest performance fins available today.

FlexFlex is a very important element in our designs. Many of our fins come with a tuned flex. A fin that has flex can be very different than a fin without flex. The flex concept brings to life an otherwise average ride. Cutbacks have more power and bottom turns have more projection.

FoilsTrue Ames Fins incorporate a constant foil which means you will not find any flat spots on our fins that may cause water disturbance which will ultimately cause poor performance. Our bigger solid color fins are foiled from 7/16” solid 6oz. glass sheet stock. Smaller fins do not need to be so thick to have the proper foil.

SizeThe depth of your fins is measured from base to tip vertically. Adjusting your fin size will affect the performance of your board. Larger fins provide more stability and control, so a larger board will need bigger fins. For example a 9’6” single fin board needs at least a 9.5” fin and if nose riding is most important to you than you will find bigger fins give more forward control.

TemplateThe outline of a fin is what determines the area and the look. The way the area is distributed on the fin is what makes fins individual and work in so many different ways. A wide base fin with a wide tip is the most stable but not forgiving. A narrow base fin with a narrow tip will be very loose and fast but unstable at slow speeds. The fin’s sweep (or rake angle) affects the board’s ability to carve turns. A more vertical fin will make tight turns and fast directional changes while a more raked fin will carve wider arcs and handle more power through turns. Tail width is also a factor in fin choice. Narrow tail boards do not require deep fins because there is less distance from the fin to the rail. A wide board requires a deeper fin than a narrower board. For example an 8’ egg style board that is on the wide side should use about an 8.5” to 9.0” fin. A narrow tail single fin board that is 7’6” can use a fin in the 7” to 8” range.

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Greenough 4C

L-Flex Nat Young

Greenough 4A

The Wilderness

GreenoughStage 6

Taking cues from the pattern of human evolution, George’s templates found it adaptive to become less wild and more upright, resulting in the birth of a new species. The 4C shares the 4A’s mild tip flex, but it has less rake and base, permitting mid–length eggs and logs a lower radius, looser turn.

colors: transparent9.5 is all you get

Greg Liddle, Bojorquez, and a parade of their cronies have had their say, and displacement–hull stub designs are once again alive to confuse waveriders world–wide. Greg’s fin design–our L–Flex–is a precision tool built for precision machines, most notably the transitional egg, single fin plug, and 2+1 stubs. The 9” also comes in a fuller template, the “B” model.

colors: transparent7.5/8/8.5/9/9–B

Perhaps one of surfing’s most boisterous pontificators, Nat Young has made some brow–raising claims over the years. His wave–sliding, however, has always spoken for itself. Stylish, simple, and functional. Should you aspire to the same, dabble in the Nat Young fin–a one–size–fits–all upright design built for versatile traditional longboarding.

colors: transparent / solid multi / wood

9.5 is all you get

Not since James B. Clark has humanity hosted a more determined Dolphin fetishist than George Greenough, who spent five years filming dolphins while wearing a creepy dolphin mask. The 4A–a high drive, medium–flex template that serves amazingly on the tip–is modeled after a dolphin fin. Dolphin glide is cinematic genius, and the 4A is hydrodynamic bliss.

colors: transparent 7/8/9/9.75/10/10.5

7.6 is all you get colors: transparent

Mayoral candidate for Santa Barbara’s surfing underground, Bob Duncan has fused his caustic gregariousness with Greenough and Kundith’s thoughts, and Wilderness surfboards are as lively as ever. The Wilderness design’s drive template and virile flex make it a perfect fit for the 2+1 stubbies shapers are just beginning to refine.

7.25/8/9/9.75 colors: transparent

In the throes of summer swell melancholia, Santa Barbara surfers fall into the clutches of alternative aquatic medicines. George Greenough sought therapy in windsurfing, and his sessions produced the Stage 6. A sander’s nightmare but a surfers dream, the Stage 6 design thrives from a stiff leg and active, flexible paddle for generating lively and powerful tail turns. Far from depressing on the nose, too.

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The Slick

colors: transparent solid / wood

San Clemente is arguably the closest thing there is to a surf city: three generations of salty residents, and probably 90% own a longboard. From deep in the good old boy network, we bring a unique noseriding model that will smoothly navigate tipsters from Camp Pendleton to Trestles... maybe even a Doheney. A great pivot noserider for your old school log, with a little more spunk than the Heritage.

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While Lauran smiles amicably, Renny will scoff at anything you say that doesn’t pertain to Mexico or fishing. But somewhere in the Yater personality spectrum lays a wealth of innovative surfing concepts. Noted here is the Yater Rudder, with its high rake, broad tip, and subtle flex–a fin forged for Santa Barbara’s endless supply of fickle point surf.

Yater Rudder

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It’s 1969. Okay. Ill–tempered Yater Pocket–Rockets streak straight lines across the USA. 2008: Another year for me and you. Hanging from collectors’ walls, the Pocket Rocket has nothing to do, but its fin–our beloved Yater Classic–is in mass–production. Its upright design, coupled with minimal flex, makes it a layman–friendly, all–purpose gem. Uh oh my. And uh...uh boo hoo.

Yater Classic

colors: transparent / solid 6.5/7/7.5/8/8.5/9/10

Ten years ago, surfers wore baggy pants, played golf, and rode thrusters. Now, they wear scruff beards, play bad solo music, and can’t decide what to ride. In a radical stasis, True Ames has held fast to a very necessary constant: the California Classic. Medium rake, medium build, and available in every reasonable size, the Cal is a solid starting foundation for any board in any conditions.

CaliforniaClassic

colors: transparent solid / multi / wood

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Squirrel Cutaway

Sometime after the Earth cooled, surfers discovered that balsa wood floats and, subsequently, that dolphins’ dorsal fins make keen surfboard shifters. It would follow, a stoned hesher might suggest, that all mammal appendages make good fins; hence the squirrel cutaway, which derives its drive from a bulbous tip and maneuverability from a tiny leg. More functional than the fabled “Red Rocket noserider.”

colors: transparent solid / multi

6/7/8/9/10

colors: transparent solid / wood

Every artist must grow weary of performing his opus. A catalog of splendid material, but the crowd only wants to hear the early hits. The Yater Spoon is a timeless step–deck design, and this fin has held steadfast and stable in a lot of photos that read “circa” in the caption. Thread to spec–a perfect replica of the original, this fin makes new logs feel old and old logs feel older.

Yater Spoon

9.75 is all you get

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Wayne RichPower

Wayne Rich#3Wayne Rich Classic

Josh Farberow

A veritable yet underrated law of shaping is that shapers who sample test their own work get the best results. Wayne Rich rides his boards, tinkers with his fins, and learns things. The result is the well–groomed, hyper–functional design like his Classic. Minimal flex, matched with moderate rake and low tip area make the Classic a snappy choice for modern longboard riders.

colors: transparent / solid 7/7.5/8/8.5/9/9.5/10

The ever–growing demands of the tip–ridinista have thrust (err..pivoted) old Wayne against the ropes, and he has answered with an absolutely brutal noserider template. Almost a caricature of an early 60’s skeg, the #3 is a high rake, high area, base–boosted monster.

colors: transparent / solid 9.5 is all you get

Skip Frye Flex

Though Donna Frye lost the San Diego mayoral race, she can take solace in the fact that hubby Skip is serving multiple terms as the ring leader for this decade’s apparent surfing Renaissance. Among his contributions to the mob, most of them made of dense polyurethane, is a personal fin template–an upright flex fin with slightly less area than an L–Flex. Heavenly on eggs and tankers alike.

colors: transparent6.5/7.5/8.5/9.25

All of the world’s most powerful, aggressive surfers, from Occy to Slater, are short men built like cinder blocks. Thus why not model other devices for pushing water around in the same mold? The Power is a stout little template that rides like a giant, demanding a little more thrust but causing a whole world of drive. A special shout out to Wayne Rich for a quick recovery.

colors: transparent / solid 6/6.5/7/7.5/8/8.5/9/9.5

You are frustrated. We understand. This confusingly agile silhouette just breezed through three insurmountable tubes, toes wrapped over the nose all the while. You can’t go. You feel cheated. Consider new avenues. The silhouette is Josh Farberow, and he energizes his 50–50 rail logs with a flexible version of our good ol’ California Classic.

colors: transparent 9/9.5/10

The Norm Flex

You’ve seen these geeks: crusty forty–somethings with pencil markings on their fin boxes, raping their fins with 200 grit while recounting epic Big Sur sessions for you. If you fit this description, or just own a retro single–fin, you are probably destined to use the Norm. The design’s low base area and extreme rake allow for tremendous projection and ego growth, and its gloss coat comes pre–removed.

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Stainless Steel 8/32 Screw & PlateStainless Steel 8/32 Screw and Plate–Standard Surfboard Box

Whether it’s because surfers are lazy or just pompus show–offs, the aptly calculated yet exceedingly casual tipride has endured as longboarding’s defining tour de force. What’s more, today’s best tools for the job, like the Heritage, still look a lot like their 40–year–old predecessors. An amalgamation of Bing thoughts and Rick scripture, the Heritage is True Ames’ timeless boutique nose–killer and snappy happy pivot fin.

The Heritage

colors: transparentsolid / wood

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At last count, Sean Haggar and the rest of the goons at Fort Hobie now have over 30 different board models. To soothe your senses, they have worked with us in delivering a rare conservative template, as there is only room for so many independent variables in surfing. If you live for foolhardy thrills, try PCP; if you crave a rational board experiment, try the Hobie Classic.

Hobie Classic

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7/8/9/108.5 Flex

From catamarans to sunglasses, the Hobie logo is silkscreened onto everything you can imagine, but it remains a symbol of the classic surfing aesthetic. The Hobie Alter template, much like today’s Hobie board designs, upholds a classic noseriding influence while paying heed to functionality and maneuverability.

Hobie Alter

colors: transparent / solid9.5 is all you get

TA Noserider

Much like a ruthless dictator, the Noserider is an imposing, powerful figure whose title is its purpose. The template’s wide base and large area grant a rider steadfast authority on the tip, and its substantial rake administers turning capabilities to single fin longboards of all ideologies.

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There exists a very few seminal shapers of surfing’s Golden Age who didn’t serve time in the Velzy compound, and consequently, there were few hydrodynamic musings of which Dale didn’t catch a sharp whiff, as evidenced here by the Noserider–a Copeland–influenced pivot fin stable enough to catch Nuiiwa’s fancy footwork and loose enough to steer old Dale out of trouble.

Velzy Noserider

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In 1959, while the taxman rapped on the door, and accountants told the Hawk that his boards were costing him more money than he sold them for, Dale Velzy wore diamonds and drove in German luxury. It was a style that married a glitz in fashion with momentary function, and the Classic template was no departure. Flared base and elongated rake make for an almost decadent turn projection for larger mid lengths and single–fin logs. Best in point surf.

colors: transparent / solid 8.5/9/9.5/10

Velzy Classic

We live in the age of Swiss Army Knife paradigm: every appetite satiated by tools idling at our fingertips, no matter how absurd. In the world of fins, there is no more robust sign of the times than the Small Box–a pocket sized weapon that allows the reaching surfer to turn 2+1 fin cluster into a traditional thruster with the turn of a handy screwdriver.

The Small Box

colors: black / clear2.5/3/3.5/4/4.5/5/5.5/6

The Oxnard plain is one of most fertile places on Earth, but historically, despite an extremely hollow harvest season, the surfers taste a bit sour. Still, sometime in the 1970’s the offshore winds blew the pesticides and pot smoke in a direction just right for innovation, and the Campbell brothers created the Bonzer fin setup: a stubby little center fin accompanied by two or four “runners.” Ignore all imitations.

colors: black / white / clear6 / 6.5 /76.5 superlite coming back soon

The Bonzer

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The Resin Transfer Method Allows us to construct a composite fin, inside which hexagonal pieces of lightweight coremat displace fiberglass and resin.

The result: a fin that is up to 25% lighter than a normal fiberglass fin yet retains the same positive flex and amazing drive.

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Glass ons

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ChannelIslands

Mayhem Hamish

Standard– B: 4.6” / 117mm H: 4.75” / 120mm Medium– B: 4.5” / 114mm H: 4.65” / 118mm Small– B: 4.4” / 112mm H: 4.5” / 114mm

High rake and lots of area throughout, favors bigger riders and power surfers.

Standard– B: 4.4” / 112mm H: 4.7” / 119mm

Medium rake and a full tip give this fin design power and vertical maneuverability. Front– B: 4.45” / 113mm H: 4.7” / 119mm

Back– B: 4.5” / 114mm H: 4.9” / 124mm

Larger back fin increases drive and is a classic with the channel bottom design.

Eric Arakawa

Standard– B: 4.35” / 110mm H: 4.55” / 116mm

A Hawaiian favorite designed by the master. A medium rake / area design with a solid tip.

Standard– B: 4.75” / 120mm H: 4.5” / 114mmSmall– B: 4.5” / 114mm H: 4.55” / 116mm

High rake and slender tip for maximum projection. Middle weight and up divisions.

Timmy Patterson

Close base–to–height ratio and moderate rake. An all–time favorite. The small is a hot grom fin. Great hold but loose with the smaller back fin.

Lost

Small– B: 6.60” / 167mm H: 4.75” / 120mm Large– B: 7.40” / 188mm H: 5.40” / 137mmMaterial: Solid glass

A pseudo–traditional keel, this single–foiled twin fin, designed by Clyde Beatty, Jr. for the notorious Beatty Rocket Fish, has become a True Ames mainstay.

Bonzer Runners

This”5” fin set up has created the new Bonzer revolution. Small– B: 6.60” / 167mm H: 4.75” / 120mm Large– B: 7.40” / 188mm H: 5.40” / 137mm

Hobie Fish

Standard– B: 8.75” / 223mm H:5.125” / 130mmMaterial: Solid glass, RTM, Gephart Wood

Reeling from a burgeoning fish revival, Hobie surfboards has chosen this twin fin template to fervently guide its Circa ‘71 fish model.

Bonzer Runners

This is the original Cambell offering as well as an important part of the 3 fin revolution. Standard– B: 10” / 254mm H: 3” / 76mm

Gephart 2 Wood Fish Fins

Standard– B: 7.5” / 190mm H: 5.15” / 130mmStandard– B: 7.87” / 200mm H: 4.75” / 120mm

Gephart 1 Wood Fish Fins

Standard– B: 8.75” / 223mm H: 5.125” / 130mm

Gephart Hobie Fish

Standard– B: 4.5” / 114mm H: 4.55” / 116mm Small– Front B: 4.35” / 110mm H: 4.5” /114mmSmall– Back B: 4.15” / 105mm H: 4.37” /111mm

Set of 4

Original Set Of 2

TA Twin

Standard– B: 5.25” / 134mm H: 5.60” / 142mm

A great all around twin fin with amazing drive.

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When staunch traditionalism and function set aside their differences, good things happen. Marine–ply fins are a gorgeous example of this phenomenon. As the craftsmanship in producing a speed–oriented, structurally–sound wood fin flourishes, so too does the aesthetic beauty of the fin. Marine–ply Baltic Birchwood is a fine choice for fin material. Used widely for skateboards, it is the softest of the hardwoods, making it strong yet exceptionally lightweight and flexible. Most importantly, unlike a hunk of fiberglass and resin, a marine–ply fin floats. A positive buoyancy characteristic, combined with a negligible weight factor, increases nose to tail balance, producing a noticeable loss of drag. For your meddlings in the intersection of style and substance, True Ames now offers the handiwork of Larry Gephart, San Diego’s finman of mystery.

This is the classic straight back keel fin that started the revolution. The most beautiful execution of craftsmanship anywhere! These fins are sealed with one layer of glass making the glass–on process so easy.

The Hobie fish template now comes in Gephart wood! They float. What more could you ask for?

With a bit of curve in the trailing edge, the base is a bit shorter but the depth is increased. These keels will light up your machine. They float and you’ll fly.

Beatty Twin Fish

Gephart Wood Quad Finsfront– B: 4.1” / 104mm H: 4.5” / 114mmback– B: 3.75” / 95mm H: 4.5” / 114mm

Gephart Wood Tri Fins

front– B: 4.5” / 114mm H: 4.87” / 124mmback– B: 4.15” / 105mm H: 4.5” / 114mm

This Skip Frye design will make you dance on water. This template is loose with excellent hold. A smaller back fin is the key.

System Fins Futures Compatible

ChannelIslands

FCS Compatible

ChannelIslands

Standard– B: 4.6” / 117mm H: 4.75” / 120mm

High rake and lots of area throughout, favors bigger riders and power surfers.

Eric Arakawa

KC

Standard– B: 4.55” / 116mm H: 4.65” / 118mm

The all–around powerhouse for the middle weights. Nice tip flex.

Timmy Patterson

YU

Front– B: 4.45” / 113mm H: 4.7” / 119mmBack– B: 4.25” / 108mm H: 4.5” / 114mm

This design is unique. The side fins provide nice drive and the trail fin works as a stabilizer. Loose and positive. Good for mid to light weight riders.

Standard– B: 4.35” / 110mm H: 4.55” / 116mm

A Hawaiian favorite designed by the master. A medium rake / area design with a solid tip.

Lost

Standard– B: 4.65” / 118mm H: 4.70” / 119mm

High rake and slender tip for maximum projection. Middle weight and up divisions.

Hobie Fish

Standard– B: 8.75” / 223mm H: 5.125” / 130mm

Reeling from a burgeoning fish revival, Hobie surfboards has chosen this twin fin template to fervently guide its Circa ‘71 fish model.

TA Twin

Standard– B: 4.55” / 116mm H: 4.5” / 114mmSmall– B: 4.40” / 112mm H: 4.3” / 109mm

Close base–to–height ratio and moderate rake. An all time favorite

Standard– B: 5.25” / 134mm H: 5.62” / 143mm

A great all around twin fin with amazing drive.

TATwin

HobieFish

KC

Standard– B: 4.55” / 116mm H: 4.65” / 118mm

The all–around powerhouse for the middle weights.

Eric Arakawa

Standard– B: 4.35” / 111mm H: 4.55” / 116mm

A Hawaiian favorite designed by the master. A medium rake / area design with a solid tip.

Lost Timmy Patterson

Standard– B: 4.55” / 116mm H: 4.5” / 114mmSmall– B: 4.40” / 112mm H: 4.3” / 109mm

Close base–to–height ratio and moderate rake. An all–time favorite.

TP Twin/Fish

Standard– B: 8.75” / 223mm H: 5.125” / 130mm

Reeling from a burgeoning fish revival, Hobie surfboards has chosen this twin fin template to fervently guide its Circa ‘71 fish model.

Standard– B: 5.25” / 134mm H: 5.62” / 143mm

A great all around twin fin with amazing drive. Standard– B:4.5” / 114mm H: 5.75” / 146mm

Timmy Patterson hybrid twin / fish

Standard– B: 4.6” / 117mm H: 4.75” / 120mm

High rake and lots of area throughout favors bigger riders and power surfers.

Standard– B: 4.75” / 120mm H: 4.5: / 114mm

High rake and slender tip for maximum projection. Middle weight and up divisions.

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Quad Timmy

PattersonQuad set of 2

Match these up with the large or small TP side tri–fins and you have tuned your quad to your liking. These fins will have a touch of inside foil to make them come alive.Standard– B: 3.85” / 98mm H: 3.95” /100mm

Twin

Quad Timmy

PattersonQuad set of 2

Match these up with the large or small TP side tri–fins and you have tuned your quad to your liking. These fins will have a touch of inside foil to make them come alive.Standard– B: 3.85” / 98mm H: 3.95” /100mm

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Fin Design Since ‘79

Apparel and more

Sizes: M – L – XLColors: black, white, brown, blue

Classic LogoSweatshirt90% Cotton / 10% Polyester

Sizes: M – L – XLColors: black, white, brown, blue

EvolutionFull– Zip Hood90% Cotton / 10% Polyester

Sizes: M – L – XLColors: black, white, brown, blue

Classic LogoTee–Shirt100% Cotton

Sizes: M – L – XLColors: black, white, brown, blue

EvolutionTee–Shirt100% Cotton

Sizes: S – M – L – XLColors: black, white, pink

Classic LogoWomen’s V–Neck100% Soft Cotton

Sizes: S – M – L Colors: black, white, grey

Side PrintFlexfit Cap

Sizes: S – M – L Colors: black, white, navy

Front PrintFlexfit Cap

Sizes: S – M – L Colors: black, navy, grey

BeanieFlexfit Cap

Classic LogoStickersblue or red

evolution. by True Ames

2019

Notes

trueames.com

Photography:Brandon AroyanGlenn DubockRyan Kleiner

Art / Layout:Ryan Kleiner

Written by: Aaron BelChere

Reference:Theory of wing sections by Abbott and Doenhoff Dover Publications, INC. NY copyright © 1949, 1959

TRUE AMES FINS6409 Camino Vista #A Goleta, CA 93117

p: 805.685.8341f: 805.562.8540 info@trueames.com

TRUE AMES FINS6409 Camino Vista #A Goleta, CA 93117